Italian Judge Convicts 23 CIA Officers for Kidnapping
Italian Officials Complicit in 2003 'Rendition' of Cleric
Completing one of Europe’s most high profile terror related trials, an Italian judge today convicted 23 Americans, 22 of them confirmed by the prosecutor as CIA agents, to sentences of between five and eight years in prison related to the 2003 kidnapping of a cleric from the streets of Milan.
The longest sentence went to Robert Lady, America’s former Milan CIA chief. All the Americans were tried in absentia and are now considered fugitives from justice by the Italian government. The CIA declined comment.
The incident, dubbed the “imam rapito affair” by the Italian press, involves the abduction of Milan’s imam, Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, an Egyptian cleric who was in Italy on an asylum passport. The CIA agents kidnapped Nasr off the streets of Milan and shipped him to Egypt.
Once in Egypt, Nasr spent the next several years in and out of prison, where he was tortured repeatedly. An Egyptian judge finally ordered his release in 2007. His only charge during the whole time was membership in a banned organization, though even this was eventually dropped.
Lady has insisted he was acting on the orders of his superiors with respect to the “rendition.” Two Italian officials were also convicted today as accomplices to kidnapping, though the Italian government’s declaration of “state secrecy” prevented more serious charges and pointed to official complicity in the incident.
Anti_Govt_Rebel
November 4th, 2009 at 6:36 pm
Hope the 23 take a vacation to Italy.
Gilbert
November 4th, 2009 at 12:00 pm
The ‘I vas only followink ordus’ excuse is SO passe.
I guess they view the Nuremberg Trial outcome as only a piece of paper, just the like the Constitution.
November 4, 2009 « Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes?
November 4th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
[...] “Italian Judge Convicts 23 CIA Officers for Kidnapping [...]
Valerianus
November 4th, 2009 at 10:08 pm
If they do, they'll get an extra long stay with ALL the appropriate accommodations.
Henry_Clemens
November 4th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
Gilbert, you are 100% correct. Crimes against humanity are crimes against humanity. "Acting on the orders of his superiors" is no excuse. It doesn't matter whether they were committed by Nazis in WWII or Americans in the 21st century. In the name of humanity and individual God-given human rights; let justice be done.
Israel Threatens New Aggression Against Gaza After U.S. Stamps Approval of War Crimes « Little Alex in Wonderland
November 4th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
[...] the Obama Administration was “disappointed” with an Italian judge convicting 23 Americans—including C.I.A. agents—for the 2003 illegal kidnapping of Hassan Mustafa Osama Nasr, a [...]
Gene Basler
November 5th, 2009 at 1:59 am
There's more than one way to skin a cat: OK, now we need a bunch of nations to follow suit, and to add on FBI and DOD. Soon the entire US Military and Intelligence apparatus will be Fugitives from Justice, and will have to seek sanctuary within US Borders. All the troops will then be brought home, and the Empire will be over. See, there's more than one way to skin a cat.
paulBass
November 5th, 2009 at 2:56 am
hopefully one morning on the way to getting their coffee a bunch of Italian agents will jump out of a van jab a syringe in the necks, and when the come to being naked on a plane headed for italy where they will stand trial wearing nothing but a diaper
doug knowles
November 5th, 2009 at 5:00 am
another travesty of justice .the top generators of these deeds should be held to account as well.
deltafarce
November 5th, 2009 at 7:22 am
even if they never go to italian prisons, fines will accrue, and this will cost the US taxpayers more than just credibility and good will. i recommend the victim sues for damages.
paulBass
November 5th, 2009 at 11:41 am
ha!!!! not in this country, the most we can hope for is enough lower downs are get the book thrown at them to discourage people from following illegal orders, especially when your not in situation that you will be killed for not following orders.
Mista D
November 5th, 2009 at 10:13 am
Good to see the Italians haven’t fallen for all the propaganda nonsense that gets rammed down our throats every time we turn the god-damn-BBC on.
Great work Italians….now see if you can nab and try Mr Blair too…. he’s bound to turn up there some time soon.
While We Wait, 23 CIA Agents Relax At Home « The Castro Manifesto
November 5th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
[...] We Wait, 23 CIA Agents Relax At Home 23 CIA agents have been found guilty, with sentences of 5 to 8 years – these CIA agents are now considered fugitives from justice. [...]
Italy Convicts C.I.A. Agents for Kidnapping « Little Alex in Wonderland
November 7th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
[...] Go to comments The Obama Administration was “disappointed” with an Italian court convicting 23 Americans—including 22 C.I.A. agents—tried in absentia for the 2003 illegal kidnapping of Osama [...]